Devastated by the untimely death of his wife, an entrepreneur from Quebec dropped everything to finally retrain as a simple employee at Shack à Snack, a candy store and popular products on TikTok.
• To read also: The addresses of the Cuisinomane: Candy bars to discover
Louis-Philippe Lebel had earned a very good living as a general construction contractor for 20 years, but the tragic fate reserved for his wife Marie-Pierre Néron made him lose the flame he had for his work.
While the couple who had met the previous year were living in perfect happiness, in 2020 the worst news that no one wants came: Marie-Pierre had an incurable cancer.
The two lovers chose to live fully each of the hours they had left together.
To hell with routine and work, they notably traveled and they got married in March 2021. The Quebec woman died in June 2022 at the age of 46.
New challenge
Months pass and Louis-Philippe Lebel, who is saddened by the departure of his better half, does not see himself returning to his old construction boots. It was then that his friend Jonathan Pérusse, owner of the Shack at Snack, beckoned him. He offers him a job at a newsstand and a salary of $18/hour, an income well below what construction workers make. The man in his forties accepts and embarks on this new adventure.
“It changes my mind. It's good to see people in a good mood and my head is full of projects, ”says Louis-Philippe Lebel, who would like to invest in trade. He even sometimes works with his 10-year-old daughter who has quickly become the "darling" of the clientele.
Instant success
Louis-Philippe's arrival coincided with the opening of a new store in Place Laurier last December, a crazy month where he was able to contribute to the instant success of the company.
“With this new branch, I needed a right arm [...] We have 2,000 visitors a day since the opening on December 3. There is a big buzz,” confirms owner Jonathan Pérusse. Whether it's spicy challenges, sour candies, chips from Japan or exotic ramen, the main products that stand out in other countries and are featured on social networks are available at Shack à Snack.
In operation for more than three years, the company also has businesses on Boulevard l'Ormière in the Duberger-Les Saules district and on 3rd Avenue West in Charlesbourg.
There are 140,000 people who follow the Snack Shack on Tik Tok. About thirty employees work on the smooth running of the company, which can boast of having had tremendous success with a turnover of just over $5 million for the past year.
